We are the PopTards, in that we are always a little “late to the game”. Tardy. Y’see, you were all set to be offended for nothin’! PopTards Podcast is a weekly conversation show wherein we spew randomly about any given topic, usually comic books, movies, music, our childhood, anything pop culture-related that brings us entertainment! We also use this here blog to write reviews of anything we FEEL like writing reviews of. No real rules, just speaking our minds. So strip to your skivvies and join us in the popculture hot tub!

5 Comments to “Huh?”

Do you accept submissions from independent comic creators?
I am in just sending Book 2 of my series: JUNKYARD ANGELS to the printer,
I’d love to be able to send you copies of the first 2 issues (either by snailmail or pdf) if you’re interested in looking at them.

Though a long-time Batman and DC Comics fan, in general, I’m new to this site, blog, podcast, etc. Nevertheless, since you’re covering GOTHAM on TV, I wanted to know if you are or will be covering the features. I had something of a radical (or ridiculous) idea a while back. I was thinking about how many DC heroes might be appearing either for the first time ever (Wonder Woman) or in their newest forms (ala Batman & Superman) in a JUSTICE LEAGUE film before ever having the kind of solo movies that might have been used in the past to establish them. DC claims to have a whole slew of films in the pipeline for the next few years, but they’ve still got some challenges in competing with Marvel. One issue I see is that with Ben Affleck not only playing Batman, but playing an established and older Batman, there’s only so much they’ll likely be able to do with him and his version of the Batman character after DAWN OF JUSTICE and maybe one or two JUSTICE LEAGUE movies. Rumors have him doing at least one solo movie in 2019, but Affleck is an A-list actor AND director who might be a fan, but will probably be feeling personal and outside pressure to return to directing Oscar bait sooner rather than later.

Then I thought about two seemingly unrelated things: The number of titles DC often has for each character in publication and the deal Warner Brothers made with the Salkinds in the mid-1970′s for those first two SUPERMAN movies. Superheroes weren’t seen as good bets at the time, so the deal was that Warners would distribute and help with funding, but only if the Salkinds could independently package, finance and cast the film, basically getting it into production almost by themselves before Warners would step in. Because they were experienced producers, it worked and the rest is history, but while it’s not likely to ever happen, I see in this story a potential solution for Warners that might actually help them compete with Marvel!

DAWN OF JUSTICE is obviously part of a string of really large scale, high-profile DC films – and that’s great – but I think fans are going to miss the solo outings and maybe some more traditional material, particularly with a character like Batman, who still has a lot of unrealized cinematic potential. Since so many people are already doing web series and such (although most, I admit, are not at all well-produced), it occurs to me that Warners could – in what they might deem a fit of temporary insanity – license the limited rights to certain characters to otherwise independent, outside filmmakers to make slightly more character-driven and smaller scale films featuring these heroes (especially the human ones like Batman and Green Arrow) for Warners to release and profit from between the bigger tent pole movies, maybe in the Fall and Winter months. The rights alone would help the independents get at least most of the funding they need given the built-in appeal of the material (depending on who the independent producers are, their experience, etc.), and Warner Brothers would be able to better compete with Marvel in terms of output without necessarily having to spend more or even as much of its own money.

The studio would have little to lose and the independents would surely see it as a great challenge and opportunity. If they were fans, it would give them a legitimate chance to show their love for these mythic heroes and even if the movies didn’t feature as many big FX or fancy costumes, most know by now that even comic book films are better served by good stories and character development than by visuals, alone. It also has a built-in potential to give Warner Brothers good PR by using its library of heroes to give film making opportunities. In a way, Marvel is already doing that as it has hired somewhat new writers/directors and/or people from TV to helm and take part in their feature films (i.e., the Russos from COMMUNITY for CAPTAIN AMERICA 2). In terms of material, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Earth 1, Earth 2, alternate universes – and, of course, a resetting of Batman solo films taking place before DAWN OF JUSTICE in which they might even introduce and tell the story of one or more of the Robins.

Anyway, I’m sure this will never happen (sadly), but I was wondering what folks like you that are regular commentators on all things DC might think of something like this and, at the risk of sounding delusional, whether or not you think fans might actually be able to petition Warner Brothers and eventually make something like this happen!